Musical educational game-cards.



J. A. BOSTWICK.

MUSICAL EDUCATIONAL GAME CARDS.

APPLICATION FILED Aue. I4, 1913.

Patented lMay 11, 1915.

JAMES AUSTIN BOSTWICK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MUSICAL EDUCATIONAL GAME-CARDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11., 1915.

Application led August 14, 1913. Serial No. 784,741.

, To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES 'AUSTIN Bestr- WICK, a citizen of the United States, resldent -of the borough of Brooklyn, city of\\k staff, but upon this staff I have placed the New York, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Musical Educational Gaine-Cards, of which the following is the specification. 1

In producing these cards, it has been my intention to devise a game that would not only prove interesting to the players, but also have a greater value that of providing an easy and enjoyable means for teaching the notes, characters and signs used in music, so therefore, although this device is a game of cards, the players will find that with each and every attempt at playing the game, they have received a lesson in the study of music.

My experience as a musician has demonstrated to me that it is diilicult to memorize musical terms and phrases, and that as a study only, the task of memorizing the numerous terms is particularly diiiicult and tedious. I have therefore attempted to make more enjoyable the necessary study and with what results will appear as the specification progresses.

My cards consist of a pack, 67 in number,

'and each containing denite characters, and

a key card whereon will be found the names of the characters represented on all of the other cards.

The following is what I consider the best means of carrying out my invention, and the accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, in Which- Figure 1, is a fractional View of the key card, and Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, show face views of certain of the'smaller or playing cards.

Similar reference numerals indica-te like parts in all the figures where they appear.

At l, and in Fig. 1, I have shown a portion of a large card, which I will sometime refer to as a key card. This card is divided into a number of sections or spaces horizontally and vertically, and in each space I place a certain note or character commonly used in music, in the space 2, I have placed the letter a and in the space 3, I have placed the ordinary five line staff, commonly used in music. I have indicated this staff with a signature 4, showing it to be the G clef commonly called. the treble clef. Upon the stall", will be noted and in proper position,

the musical character a in three diiferent positions, below the line, upon the line, and above the line, as they are usually termed. In the space 5, I have shown a similar signature for the F or bass clef, and upon this staH, I have also shown characters properly placed to indicate a in the bass clef. Although I have only shown a as in two position on this clef, I may extend it over or under the line if I so desire.

At 7 I show a space in which the letter B is placed and in the spaces 8 and 9, will be found staffs upon which are placed the characters b in the trebleand bass clef, respectively. Each of the letters of a complete musical scale from a to g inclusive are treated in a similar-manner, a space being provided for the letter and upon the same horizontal line, spaces for the musical characters in the treble and bass clef, corresponding with the letter that appears in line therewith.

On the right half of the sheet, I have set forth, the marks and terms used' in music.

On this portion of the sheet, the spaces are somewhat smaller, although I may use a sheet divided into spaces of equal sizes. In the uppermost of the smaller spaces, that indicated by 10, I print or produce the name of the character or characters that are to be shown in horizontal alinement therewith. The space 10 contains the names whole note and Whole rest. In the space 11, I show a staff upon which the character indicating a whole rest is set forth, and in the space 12, I place a character indicating a whole note. The space 13, contains the names half-rest and half-note, and in horizontal alinement therewith, I show the characters representing a half-rest and -a half-note, and in this manner I proceed through the whole series of musical terms, taking care that the characters named by the terms shall each time appear in horizontal alinement with the name. The series that I have here used from first to last, are as follows:

Whole note and whole rest, half-note and half-rest, quarter note and quarter rest, .eighth note and eighth rest, sixteenth nete and sixteenth rest, thirty-second note and thirty-second rest, sharp, double sharp, flat, dotted note, natural, repeat, and hold. These terms I have found sufficient to give one a fair understanding of musical terms and phrases. Though I desire it understood that i may extend this series to include all known pack of smaller cards for playing the game.

Five of these car s are shown in Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive. The whole pack consists of. 67 cards, each of equal size and each bearing an appropriate design upon the back or reverse side. Upon the face or front of each card, I produce in duplicate and directly opposed one ofthe letters, terms or characters that appear upon the key card. The card shown in Fig. 2, contains the letter B as` shown at 7 on the key card. The card shown' at Fig. 3, contains a staff, a G clefpjsignature and one of the notes b that appears in space 8 on the key card. The card shown 1n Fig. 4, contains a staff, the f clef signature and one of the notes b shown in the space9 on the key card.

The card shown in Fig. 5, contalns a staff with proper signature and a character 1nd1- eating a sixteenth rest, and an addltlonal character indicating a sixteenth note. The Acard shown in Fig. 6, has printed thereon, the words sixteenth note and sixteenth rest. All of the cards of the whole series of 67, in a like manner set forth, one musical term or letter.

Before playing the game, it is advisable to study the key card and memorize as far as possible the different letters, notes, signs land signatures, so that when they are, seen,

displayed upon an exposed card, they may be readily recognized. `It is not expected that a player will memorize all of the matter contained upon the key card and it has been found that the constant reference necessary to the key card will familiarize a player with all of the characters, that within a short space of time.

In playing the game, all of the smaller cards are shuffled or mixed. They are then dealt in any manner so that each player will receive six cards. Six cards are also exposed face up, upon the table. Each player in turn ascertains if he can match a card in his hand with one exposed upon the table, if so, the card from the hand and the exposed card are placed face downward upon the table near the player matching the card. A letter card will take any note card of a similar name. A note card will also take any other note card or letter card of a similar name. Likewise the signatures and signs are matched or may be matched with similar signatures or signs. Should a player be unable to match a card in his hand with one upon the table, he will place a card from his hand face up with those already exposed upon the table. When all of the cards have been placed from each `players hand, another hand of six will be dealt to each player until all the cards have been dealt out.l At the conclusion of the playing, should there remain unmatched cards exposed upon the table, the player making the last match is entitled to the remaining exposed cards.

There are two ways of counting to ascertain who has won the game. The simplest way is count the'number of cards, matched and takenin by each player, but I prefer that the values of a card should be considered, and to that end, I have arranged the following schedule of Values. Each mark or sign such as repeat, rest, and clefs, will count one point. Each note will count two points, each of the letters as shown in Fig. 2, will count ive points.V In this way, total number of points to be obtained is 125.

`To further simplify the game, we may omit a portion of it, for instance, the 12 notes which I have shown as comprising the bass clef. The total number of points then possible to obtain will be 101.

I desire it understood that other modifications of this game may be made besides those that I have herein set forth.

Having carefully and fully described my invention what I claim and desire to secure vby Letters Patent, is

1. A pack of playing cards in series, certain of said cards having on their faces portions of a musical staff having notes of different value and location, and other of said cards having the alphabetic name of said notes as specified.

2. Game-cards consisting of 67 independent cards certain of which have upon their faces a portion of a musical staif with a note or sign of different value or name upon each card, other of said cards having the typed name of said notes, and said signs, said cards being adapted to be won by pairing notes or signs of the same name or by pairing with a note or'sign the typed name thereof as herein set forth.

Signed at the city of New York, county of New York, and State of New York, this 7th day of August, 1913.

JAMES AUSTIN BOSTVVICK.

Witnesses:

G. E. STnRnIrrE, D. BANKS. 

